The teak (I think) table I've been working on.
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238325)
Walnut Creek, California
February 24, 2020 7:54pm CST
My friend sent a picture she took of me working on her teak table (it's actually her sister's husband's). At least I think it's teak. A lot of the Danish Modern furniture from the Mid-20th Century was made with teak.
I'm most familiar with walnut (vintage loudspeakers), mahogany (guitars) and rosewood (guitars). I've worked with maple but it's extremely hard (dense) and difficult to stain.
In any case, the table looked pretty bad when I started working on it. My friend said that her sister's husband was quite a party animal in his younger day, and that this table may have been the victim of many coaster-less drinks and cigarettes.
I decided to take it on. Yes, this is the table involved in my "awkward situation" the other day. My friend wants to pay me for my work, as this table will be part of the display in the sale of an expensive California house. I'm willing to charge her something, but not the $100 or $120 I would usually charge for such a project.
It was actually an excuse for us to get together, drink a couple of beers, and gossip.
Anyway, hopefully she'll send a picture of the table once we finished it off this past weekend. It looks pretty good, and I hope to put some of my coasters in the drawers when the thing goes on display (intended to be an "inside joke" between my friend, my friend's sister, her husband, and myself).
For the record, I still haven't been paid for the two sets of speakers I did for a friend whose friend had passed away. His wife wanted him to sell the speakers, but I don't know how proactive he's being about doing so. I made them look minty. As is the case here, I would not charge a friend what I usually charge. But I'd accept some compensation, just so everyone can feel "whole."
Have done work for friends? How did it turn out? Do you charge friends less than normal "customers"?
18 people like this
16 responses
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
25 Feb 20
I never charged my friends anything ever
2 people like this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
25 Feb 20
@TheHorse many times and I have felt hurt as well
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238325)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Feb 20
@amitkokiladitya That's why I like the charge less than usual strategy. I don't want me or the other person to feel hurt.
1 person likes this

@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
25 Feb 20
No, but sometimes people need a friendly reminder..."I got electricity bill to pay, and I was wondering when you'll be able to pay me for the...." something like that and add I charged you my friend rate, not as high as my usual rate, so when can you pay me? If you got paypal account better yet you could tell them to pay you via paypal for their convenience. Good luck, for everyone needs money and you've been so nice to charge them a friend rate, that's lower and you should get paid.
1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238325)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Feb 20
@oahuwriter I've practiced music a few times with the fella who has the speakers I restored. We haven't discussed it. He's not a "take advantage of" kind of guy, so I assume it's just because we were focusing on the music.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
25 Feb 20
@TheHorse
But you should get paid, and maybe your friends just got busy and want to pay you but haven't had a chance to get in touch with you?
1 person likes this

@allen0187 (59830)
• Philippines
25 Feb 20
Have done work for friends? Yes, but not often as it can be very tricky when it comes to charging how much is the fee due to me.
How did it turn out? Some are fine. Others, not so much.
Do you charge friends less than normal "customers"? Yes, I do charge less than usual. After all, we are 'friends'.
1 person likes this

@allen0187 (59830)
• Philippines
25 Feb 20
@TheHorse true.
That is why when I deal with friends and their businesses, I pay the full price. No exceptions. Either that or I don't avail of their product/service. It is the least that I can do to show support.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238325)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Feb 20
@allen0187 I've done that for friends I perceive as "needing the money" more than I do.

@wolfgirl569 (135819)
• Marion, Ohio
25 Feb 20
Around here we usually trade work. That works out real well for everyone.
1 person likes this

@wolfgirl569 (135819)
• Marion, Ohio
25 Feb 20
@TheHorse It often isnt here because of timing. We might need help then a couple of months later someone else needs help. But we know each others limits too.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238325)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Feb 20
@wolfgirl569 Does everyone (generally) wind up happy?
1 person likes this

@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
25 Feb 20
If it's a personal favor, I would not charge. But if it's a professional help and something that I generally do for earning, I would charge but maybe with a discount for friendship



1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
25 Feb 20
@TheHorse I think that's fair. Even friends are not comfortable getting a free professional help. At least I insist on paying.
1 person likes this

@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
25 Feb 20
honestly, with friends, I take what they offer (if they offer)
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238325)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Feb 20
@DocAndersen I hope so! But I don't assume so.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
25 Feb 20
@TheHorse probably. But I figure if a friend needs help, they will pay it forward for someone else!
1 person likes this

@besweet (9831)
• Ireland
25 Feb 20
I did give special prices for friends when I was a freelancer. But the price was always agreed upfront to avoid any misunderstandings. I think it's better to let them know that normally for this you would charge an X amount and for them it will be less because they are your friends.
I enjoyed reading the background story for the table!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502573)
• Italy
25 Feb 20
I am not sure at all that this is teak, I have a teak table outside the wood gets darker aging and this is surely not new. I have to clean the table after the winter. I am not sanding, I use a product to remove that "grey" shade that it gets and I oil.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98033)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Feb 20
I never did any work for friends but I do agree that you should charge them less just for the sake of friendship.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 Feb 20
The table is looking good.
I don't charge friends or family.
@TheHorse (238325)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Feb 20
I've been in the world of "academia" most of my life. We do research. We publish papers that nobody reads except for other researchers. They read our papers mostly so they can cite them, publish their own papers, and advance their careers. Have I ever helped a single human being through my publications? I have no idea. I needed hobby where what I did had a "concrete" outcome. Either I make that case, or pair of speakers, beautiful or I don't. Same with my more recent work with kids. Either that kid is better off for having worked with me, or s/he is not.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222534)
• United States
25 Feb 20
I've never done work for friends; so I can't really comment. I think I would give them a special rate.
@thislittlepennyearns (68246)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
25 Feb 20
I love teak. It's so beautiful and strong.


















